Ghost hunters return

Thursday

Jun 26, 2008 at 12:01 AM

By JASON KENNEY

By JASON KENNEY

Special Writer

MIDDLEBORO — As the Sci-Fi channel gets ready to premier its new season of "Ghost Hunters International," the next round of ghost hunting in Middleboro will take place sometime next month, as the Board of Selectmen recently approved the request of another paranormal society to investigate the town hall for ghosts.

Although the exact date of the ghostly investigation hasn't been revealed to the public to avoid a possible "media frenzy," Selectwoman Marsha Brunelle volunteered to accompany members of the Enfield Paranormal Society, of Enfield, Conn., after members of her board were concerned that the town could incur a cost to hire someone to open the building and keep it open during the 10-hour long investigation.

"Is there going to be a cost to us?" asked Selectmen Chairperson Adam Bond. "And if there is, are you going to cover it?"

Ghost society member Pat Martin said most towns typically don't incur any costs associated with the investigation and was pleased that Ms. Brunelle volunteered to be there for the entire time. She said her seven-member group wanted to conduct a study after they read reports of a prior investigation that was done in the building by local members of the Paranormal Institute of New England.

In February, Ed Beaulieu of Middleboro and Len Anderson of Bridgewater investigated the 135-year-old building for paranormal activity. After their investigation, they presented selectmen in March with evidence of paranormal presences in the town hall, including recorded sounds and orbs that appeared in several digital pictures taken on the balcony of the second-floor grand ballroom. "We would like to augment what Mr. Beaulieu and Mr. Anderson did by adding our team of investigators (armed) with extensive technology," said Ms. Martin, who is also a member of the Cohasett Finance Committee and the host of a cable show in her town.

"We want to gather as much information as we can and we'll turn over any evidence back to the town of Middleboro."

To avoid a repeat of the study that was done before, Selectman Patrick Rogers asked Ms. Martin what her group intended to do differently from the Paranormal Institute.

"We're bigger than them," she replied. "We use state-of-the-art technology and we will be here for a longer amount of time. We are serious about what we do."

After the unanimous vote, Mr. Bond said he encouraged this type of activity in the town.